Roller buckle



July 1, 1958 A. BLISS ROLLER BUCKLE Filed Oct. 19, 1954 INVENTOR. ALBERT BLISS F 62. 4- J m- ATTORN EY United States Patent ROLLER BUCKLE Albert Bliss, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to-Arthur Thomas Sturdy, In, Warwick, R. I.

Application October 19, 1954, Serial No. 463,153

3 Claims. (Cl. 24--171) My invention relates generally to the buckle art and, more specifically to a novel belt buckle.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application filed January 9, 1952, Serial No. 265,620, entitled, Buckle, now matured as U. S. Patent No. 2,697,260, issued December 21, 1954.

One object of my invention is the provision of an improved belt buckle whereinsubstantially all the operating portions are concealed by the belt.

Another object is the provision of a belt buckle having novel means for releasably retaining the belt in this adjusted position.

Another object is the provision of a buckle wherein the belt is held in its adjusted position by a clamping action.

A'further object of the present invention is the provision of a buckle embodying roller means for clamping the belt in its adjusted position.

Another object is the provision of a belt buckle providing a greater'range of adjustment than is attainable by the majority of belts now in use.

Still another object is the provision of a belt buckle construction having a novel front portion which lends itself to a large variety of ornamental designs.

Afurther object is the provision of a belt buckle that is simple and rapid in operation and that will securely hold the belt in its adjusted position.

Another object is the provision of a belt buckle that can be easily and economically manufactured, but that still is of durable construction and pleasing appearance.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connectionwith the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the' drawings, which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved buckle in operation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of my improved buckle in operation;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the buckle alone.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 3 and 5 thereof, it will be noted that my improved buckle is of generally rectangular configuration and comprises a frame member 12 and a roller assembly 14. The frame member 12, which may be integrally stamped from sheet stock, comprises transversely disposed end portions 16 and 18 integrally connected by spaced, longitudinally extending, parallel strips 20 and 22. Strips 20 and 22 are integrally joined at the central portions thereof by transversely extending strip 24.

The afore-described parts 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 define a square opening 26 and elongated openings 28 and 30, as will be seen most clearly in Fig. 3. Openings 26 and 28 are blanked in the buckle merely to reduce the weight of the item without any appreciable reduction in rigidity 2 and strength. Opening 30 serves a definite mechanical function, however, as will subsequently become apparent.

Perpendicularly disposed at the outer extremities of transverse portions 16 and 18 are integral supporting posts 32, which in turn integrally carry inwardly extending strips or flanges 34 and 36, see Figs. 2 and 5. The strips 34 and 36 cooperate with posts 32 and portions 16 and 18 to form substantially U-shaped channel means through which the belt 38 is guided, as will hereinafter be de scribed in more detail.

As will be seen most clearly from Fig. 2, the parallel strips 20 and 22 are in spaced but not parallel relation with respect to flanges 34 and 36. More specifically, starting at portion 16 it will be noted that strips 20 and 22 diverge with respect to flanges 34 and 36 until just before reaching the transverse strip 24. At that point the said strips 20 and 22 begin to converge with respect to said flanges 34 and 36 and continue to do so throughout the width of strip 24, whereupon they begin to slightly diverge again until portion 18 is reached. The reasons for their structure will hereinafter be made apparent.

To attach the buckle 10 to one end of the belt 38, the construction shown in Fig. 5 is utilized, although it will be understood that this structure forms no part of the instant invention and hence is set forth merely for purposes of description and illustration rather than limitation.

- Extending integrally from the portion 18 is a plate 40 having blanked therein an aperture 42. The sides of the plate 40 are bent downwardly to form ears 44, thereby increasing the rigidity of the structure. The outermost extremity of aperture 42 is defined by transverse bar 46. To attach the belt, an end thereof is simply looped through the opening 42 and is then brought back against itself and fastened by rivets 48 or the like.

Referring now primarily to Figs. 4 and 5, the roller assembly 14 will now be described. A roller element 50 having integral pintles 52 at each end thereof is rotatably mounted in housing 54. The housing 54 has oppositely disposed tabs 56 of generally elliptical shape, in which are punched holes 53 for receiving the pintles 52. The housing 54 further consists of upwardly extending, oppositely disposed, arcuate walls 60. As will be most evident from Figs. 2 and 5, the walls 60 conform to the periphery of tabs 56 andextend upwardly for about one-half the height of said tabs. In the upper edge of each of the walls 60 in the oppositely disposed wall. Furthermore, the notches 62 are adapted to receive the strips 20 and 22 in a manner about to be described. Walls 60 and tabs 56 of housing 54 are preferably integral, it being understood that said housing is blanked from sheet stock and then bent into the .form illustrated and described.

In assembling the roller 50, the housing 54 and the frame 12, the housing is brought into engagement with the frame so that the notches 62 receive the strips 241 and 22. The tabs 56 are then spread apart enough to enable the roller 5'0 to be inserted therebetween, on the opposite side of strips 20 and 22 from the walls 60. See Fig. 4. The tabs are then pressed inwardly to receive the pintles 52. Thus the roller assembly 14 is slidably mounted on the frame 12, it being understood that the notches 62 and strips 20 and 22 coact to provide guideways, while the roller 50 facilitates sliding movement by cutting down friction. As the roller assembly 14 slides relative to the frame 12, the portions of the walls 69 between the notches 62 will ride in the afore-mentioned opening 30, thus the extremities of said opening will coact with said wall portions to provide positive stop means for the said sliding movement.

In use, the free end of the belt 38 is inserted adjacent the portion 16, note Fig. 2, by sliding it between the 3 posts 32, over the roller 50 but under flanges 34 and 36. It will be understood that when the free end of the belt is being inserted, the roller assembly is at the extreme end of its travel, in abutment with thetransverse strip 24. After the wearer has tightened the belt to the desired degree, the roller assembly is slid back toward the portion16, which action, due to the aforedescribed diverging relationship which exists between the strips 20, 22 and the flanges 34, 36, causes the roller to wedge therebetween, thus tightly clamping the belt, the roller and said flanges. To further insure tight clamping of the belt, the roller 50 may be knurled as shown at 64. Thus it will be seen that whereas the number of adjustments possible for the ordinary tongue-type buckle is limited by the number of holes in the belt, my improved buckle is capable of affording an infinite number of adjustments. Furthermore, substantially all the operative parts of the buckle are concealed by the belt, the only portions visible being the flanges 34 and 36, see Fig.1. To release the belt it is only necessary to slide the roller assembly 14 back toward transverse strip 24, thereby releasing the clamping action on the belt.

The above construction lends itself to a considerable number of variations. For example, the strips or flanges 34, 36 are illustrated as generally rectangular strips. It

is obvious, however, that they can be supplied with surface ornamentation of any desired kind or ornamental portions can be soldered or otherwise aflixed thereto. In addition, the flanges may be of any desired shape or configuration. Since they are considerably spaced from each other, the modus operandi will be puzzling to the uninitiated, thus providing a pleasing and provocative appearance. The operation is extremely rapid and yet aifords an effective gripping action. Although durable of construction, my improved buckle can be easily and economically manufactured and assembled.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept, and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A belt buckle comprising a one-piece frame member, said frame member having a substantially'rectangular rear portion, means joined to one end of said rear portion for securing one end of a belt thereto, said rear portion having at each corner thereof an integral supporting post perpendicularly disposed thereto, a pair of inwardly extending flanges integrally carried by said posts, said flanges being in spaced relation to said rear portion and defining therewith oppositely disposed channels, said channels being completely open along the length of said frame member between said supporting posts and slidably receiving the free end of said belt, the open portion of said channels providing access to the edges of said belt, said flanges extending inwardly a distance considerably less than one-half the lateral dimension of said frame member to define a space therebetween, said space providing additional access to said belt during the belt tightening and loosening operations, and means associated with said rear portion for releasably retaining the free end of said belt in adjusted position.

2. A belt buckle comprising a one-piece frame member, said frame member having a substantially rectangular rear portion, means joined to one end of said rear portion for securing one end of a belt thereto, said rear portion having at each corner thereof an integral supporting post perpendicularly disposed thereto, a pair of inwardly extending flanges integrally carried by said posts, said flanges being in spaced relation to said rear portion and defining therewith oppositely disposed channels', said channels being completely open along the length of said frame member between said supporting posts and slidably receiving the free end of said belt, the open portion of said channels providing access to the edges of said belt, said flanges extending inwardly a distance considerably less than one-half the lateral dimension of said frame member to define a space therebetween, said space providing additional access to said belt during the belt tightening and loosening operations, and means slidably mounted on said rear portion for movement from a non-wedging position to a wedging position with relation to the free end of the belt in order to releasably retain the latter in a fixed position.

3. A belt buckle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the last' mentioned means comprises a roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 308,915 Meaker Dec. 9, 1884 824,276 Brewer June 26, 1906 1,035,643 Sanders Aug. 13, 1912 1,126,841 Nystrom Feb. 2, 1915 1,850,944 Sanders Mar. 22, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 220,310 Germany Mar. 22, 1910 

